What. A. Great. Book!
This one will surely be in the top lists of my best books of the year.
I was touched, moved, anxious, happy and sad. I cried a little, I laughed out loud a lot, and my heart was just full.
What starts with an inept bank robbery, goes into 'people being "idiots', peoples' neuroses and obsessive behaviors, relationships, and how fragile humans really are.
I am at a loss for words this time, and I know this book will stay with me in my heart and mind for some time to come.
5 Amazing Stars.

This book takes on all the feelings as it tells the story of a bank robbery that turns into a hostage situation and shows us that there is more to every story if we'll just take the time to listen. In Anxious People, Mr. Backman tells many people's stories and shows how lives touch one another, even if we don't know it, or don't know it at the time.

I would guess that the bank robber is the main character, but I don't think that's fair to the story. There are the father/son police team, the people taken hostage, and the psychologist. In one way or another, all of these people are affected by one another, and all of them have been affected by a suicide that took place 10 years earlier.

This is an emotional book. I found myself laughing and crying - sometimes at the same time. The melancholic sweetness never got out of control, which could have happened with this content. I want to recommend Anxious People to everyone!

My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One of the best books I have read all year, and there have been many thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. This is also by Fredrk Backman, a must read always author, so when I saw a new book, I was like "Hell yes!" His books and characters stay with you long after you have completed his novels, and the latest follows the same pattern.

PS- this book will make you an emotional mess!

Highly recommended! I am definitely getting a hard copy of this after publication.

Thanks to Netgalley, Fredrik Backman and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 9/8/20

I loved this good. If you like Fredrick Bachman then you will adore his next upcoming novel, Anxious People. Run to your local bookstore and purchase this novel.

When I received this ARC copy of Anxious People by Fredrick Backman, I was so excited. This book most definitely lived up to my excitement! The characters, plot, and witty dialogue were so good! At first you believe this book is about a bank robbery gone wrong, but you find out it’s about so much more.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

I do not have adequate words to describe how I feel about this book. The plot, the variety of characters, the honest/witty dialogue, the details, the overall message were all SO good that I truly was sad when it was over (but no worries - I spent today rereading it).

I honestly do not know how Backman can continue to write stories that make you laugh out loud at one moment and feel ALL the feels in the next. Or how well his descriptions/storylines weave in and out throughout the story so perfectly that you truly feel like you are part of the story as well - hanging out with the characters, laughing with them, empathizing with each character's story, and trying to figure out what happened to the bank robber.

While the story is hilarious and witty, I love how real Backman gets about life - I bet anyone who reads this will find something (if not many parts) that hit home. There were so many parts that I know that I will go back to reread, underline, and remember.

I could keep going and going, but it's better that I stop and don't give any more away. But you have to take my word and preorder this book! (Publish date: 9/8/20)

Thank you to Fredrik Backman for continuing to write books that are so honest, hilarious, and memorable. Super grateful for Atria Books and Netgalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this author's books so much that nothing I write in a review will come anywhere near close to how much I enjoy his books. If you haven't discovered him yet, and you are a fan of great stories played out by fantastic characters, please do give him a try. This one isn't a bad place to start now you are here...
As with all his books, the story contained herein is a little quirky. It is full of things that aren't what they seem and that's events and people. A bank robbery, a viewing, a husband parking the car. Eight strangers thrown together by circumstances who slowly start to open up to each other. A catalyst that sparks emotions and delivers dilemmas.
And that's all you need to know about the story... I'll leave you to discover the rest as the author intends.
I've said that this book is emotional. Well, it is that, and it's definitely thought provoking. But it's also very funny in places. It's such a character driven book that, to pull this off, the author has to be well versed in people watching and observational skills. This is definitely true here. Especially the strange quirky things that they do along the way that don't quite make sense at the time but, wow, when you get the whole picture it becomes so clear you'll probably non and grin to yourself.
It's also a bit about preconceptions and assumptions and how things are not always as they seem on face value. You really need to dig quite deep sometimes to get to the truth, if at all. Meandering around and about several twists and turns to get there. But, when you do get there, it's beautiful.
In fact, the only bad thing I can say about this book is that it had to end. I did feel that I had connected so well with the majority of the characters that leaving them made me feel a bit bereft. I also feel that certain characters may have more to say in the future, either in the form of a sequel or just a side role in a future book. I'd love to reconnect...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I didn't think I could love Backman any more than I already did. A Man Called Ove and Beartown are among my favorites. This one is now added to that list.

The story of a suicide, an unlikely bank robber, a father-son police duo, and a hostage situation (filled with assorted quirky characters) makes for a funny, social commentary that keeps you guessing and tugs at your heartstrings. I could not put this book down. There are many twists and turns -- some I saw coming, many that I did not. Every character is endearing and intriguing with backstories that draw the reader further into the story. This is a bit Agatha Christie or "Knives Out", a bit Simon Pegg/Nick Frost (without the gore & profanity). It would make a great movie!!

One note -- this is a fun, mystery romp, but there is a definite, more serious theme. The story starts with a suicide and that event is really overshadows everything. But the seriousness of the message just hangs in the background and never drags down the story. This seems to be a hallmark of Backman's books. He tackles serious events and themes, but his dry wit and humorous look at the human condition makes his books thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommended!!!

“This is a story about a bridge, and idiots, and a hostage drama, and an apartment viewing. But it’s also a love story. Several, in fact.”

Fredrik Backman continues to write amazing stories, and I’m so happy to be a fan of his work. ANXIOUS PEOPLE will absolutely be in my top 5 of 2020. I’m pretty sure I felt every emotion while reading this book- it was mysterious, tragic, educational, happy, loving, heart breaking, and heartfelt. Backman truly does it all.

What started as (seemingly) a (simple) bank robbery, turned into a hostage at an apartment viewing, which snowballed into stories about people, relationships, family, grief, love, loneliness, mental health, and how we all need to spend a little extra time taking care of each other.

I adored this book, it’s characters, and all it’s stories woven into one. Make sure you grab this book off the shelves on September 8th!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Atria Books for the advanced copy of ANXIOUS PEOPLE.

I loved this novel! It made me cry and then laugh out loud. Anxious People is heartbreaking at times but also uplifting. Something we can all use doing this pandemic.

Thank you to @atriabooks for gifting me an arc copy of ANXIOUS PEOPLE by @backmansk! This synopsis hooked me instantly and I immediately added this to my TBR. ANXIOUS PEOPLE releases September 8th! Is this one on your radar yet?
.
.
.
s u m m a r y ⇣
This is a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.

Viewing an apartment normally doesn’t turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers slowly begin opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths.

As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people.

Another wonderful story from Backman - his use of language (in as much as we can absorb of his style in translation) continues to surprise and inspire, the very personal emotions he describes and evokes, the humor, the hope - all of it makes an entertaining, insightful, critical, and compassionate portrayal of modern life.

When a failed bank robber bursts into an apartment open house in a small town in Sweden and takes hostages, each person harbors hurts and passions ready to burst out. Backman, the author of “A Man Called Ove,” has written an uplifting novel about friendship, forgiveness and hope with interesting, complex characters. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

It has taken me a bit to write a review for this book because I can't put into words how much I loved this book and why.... Essentially (paraphrased quote): It is a book about a bank robbery, but also a book about idiots.

It is quirky. It is funny. It is suspenseful. It is real. It is absurd. It is wonderful!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I am a fan of Fredrik Backman. I found this one to be funny and a quick read. It wasn't my favorite out of his. I still love "A Man Called Ove". But I think this is a good book to go along with our trying times and having a lot of people dealing with more things that may make them anxious or cause anxiety.
A good quick read.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book as I have read and loved all the author's previous books. This one ranks as one of his best. Backman's books are quite diverse genres; this one has the most humor, which I particularly appreciated. The style of the book was very clever, and I liked that my assumptions were often wrong. I may need to read the whole thing again knowing the ending, and I usually don't want to spend the time to do that with a big backlog of reading.

I loved the complex characters and relationships, and I appreciated the observations on contemporary life. I also enjoyed the mystery of the book and its resolution. As much as I adored the humor and sarcasm in the book, the serious issues raised in the book were also handled beautifully. There is a lot of substance to the book which would make it a wonderful choice for book discussion groups. This is one of my favorite books of the year, and I highly recommend it.

When I pick up one of Fredrik Backman’s novels I’m fairly sure I’m going to enjoy it. He has a gift for writing about the human condition. One minute I’m chuckling and the next I’m tearing up – finding so much relatable. In this book we’re treated to a rag-tag group of people who find themselves at an open house for an apartment when they are taken hostage. Over the next several hours much is revealed about each person. Backman’s tale touches on the cares and worries of them all – people just doing the best they can. Anxious People was written with Backman’s signature humor and heart. And, yes, I enjoyed it all. Recommended!

I loved this book. I found I cared about the characters, even more so, once you heard their stories. All of them had touched each others lives at one point or another. Not always aware that they had. During the hostage taking at an apartment viewing, they listened to one anothers points of view. Made new friends and amazing thing began to happen. You, the reader, really need to pick up this book. I promise you, you'll be glad you did. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me a copy.

Oh man this was super interesting. I have never read anything by Frederik Backman before and I heard rave reviews for Man called Ove so I had to try this out. So this was about a botched robbery where the robber tried to rob a cashless bank then got spooked by a cop outside and ran into the apt building across the street and into the first empty apt which was one having a showing and had a bunch of people inside looking at it. So it starts with the 2 cops in charge of the investigation in this little town and they are the main pov until they start interviewing the witnesses and each witness takes over the chapter with a story that gives you clarity on how they each intertwine and how they each have secrets that give you a broader picture of what’s going on. All in all I really enjoyed the book and Backman is a really good writer and the translation didn’t make it too hard to read.

Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own

"The truth is that this was a story about many different things, but most of all about idiots. Because we're doing the best we can, we really are. We're trying to be grown-up and love each other and understand how the hell you're supposed to insert USB leads."

Similar words at the beginning and the end of this novel resonate through each and every page. This is a story which turns presumptions on their heads, gives you hope and makes you sad, while providing laughter and something deep to ponder. The writing is delicious and the plot is topsy-turvy, but ties together in the best of ways. A must read.